Bhaskaravarman

Bhaskaravarman (600–650 CE) was king of Kamarupa and the last ruler of the Varman dynasty. He restored Varman rule after his father, Susthitavarman, was defeated and allied with Harshavardhana of Thaneswar against Gauda and East Malwa.^{[3][4][page needed]} He was visited by Chinese envoys Xuanzang and Wang Xuance.^[5][6]

Bhaskaravarman
The 7th century Kamarupa under Bhaskaravarman.[1] The kingdom extended to the east up to the hills that led to China,[2] according to the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited Bhaskarbarman's court during his heydays around 643 CE.
King of Kamarupa
Reign	600–650 CE

Background

Bhaskaravarman succeeded his brother Supratisthitavarman and was the first Kamarupa king to claim descent from Narakasura, Bhagadatta, and Vajradatta.^[7][8] He issued the Dubi and Nidhanpur copper plate grants,^[9] and a clay seal with his name was found at Nalanda.^[10]

After Susthitavarman’s defeat by Mahasenagupta, Supratisthitavarman briefly ruled but died without an heir. Bhaskaravarman then took the throne around 600 CE.^[11]

Rivals

Mahasenagupta allied with Shashanka and controlled north and central Bengal after defeating Susthitavarman.^{[12][page needed]} After Mahasenagupta's death, Shashanka ruled Bengal. Bhaskaravarman's main rivals were Shashanka and Prabhakaravardhana, father of Harshavardhana.^{[4][page needed]}

Alliance with Harsha

After Shashanka murdered Rajyavardhana, Harshavardhana’s brother and successor, Bhaskaravarman sent envoy Hangsavega to Thaneswar to form an alliance. This is recorded by Bana and Xuanzang.^[13][14]

Chinese accounts

Xuanzang's account

Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited Bhaskaravarman’s court around 643 CE and described the capital's circumference as thirty li (~9 miles). He described Bhaskaravarman as a Brahmana who patronized Buddhism, though he was not a Buddhist himself.^[15] This contrasts with the She-Kia-Fang-Che which calls Bhaskaravarman a Kshatriya of Chinese ancestry.^[16]

Wang Xuance's account

After 648 CE, envoy Wang Xuance visited Harshavardhana’s court but was expelled by Yashovarman. Wang returned with an army, captured Yashovarman, and brought him to China. Bhaskaravarman aided Wang with supplies.^{[12][page needed]} Chinese records call Bhaskaravarman Ch-Kieu-mo (Sri-Kumara) and Kamarupa Kia-mu-lu. He gave Wang a map and requested an image of Laozi.^[17]

Kamarupa of Bhaskaravarman

Xuanzang, in his travelogue, noted that he crossed the river Karatoya before entering Kamarupa. The eastern boundary was a line of hills close to the Chinese frontier. He also said that Kamarupa was nearly 1,700 miles in circumference. The climate was genial. He mentioned that the people were of short height and yellow complexion, and Bhaskaravarman was Hindu and not Buddhist. The people's speech differed little from that of Central India. They were of violent disposition but also persevering students. They worshipped the Devas and didn't believe in Buddhism. The Deva-temples were some hundreds in number, and the various systems had some myriads of professed adherents. The few Buddhists in the country performed their acts of devotion in secret. The pilgrim heard from the locals that to the east of the country was a series of hills which reached as far as the confines of China. The inhabitants of these hills were akin to the "Man of the Lao". In the southeast of the country, elephants were plentiful.^[18]

Description

Xuanzang notes that Kamarupa was low and moist and that the crops were regular. Coconuts and jackfruits grew abundantly and were appreciated by the people. The description provided is around present-day Guwahati.^[19]

According to the account given in the Si-yu-ki, the circumference of Kamarupa was about 1,700 miles (2,700 km). As Edward Albert Gait has pointed out, this circumference must have included the whole of the Assam valley, Surma valley, parts of North Bengal, and parts of Mymensingh.^[20]

Religion

Bhaskaravarman was primarily a worshiper of Shiva but showed respect towards Buddhist monks and scholars, reflecting an inclination towards Buddhism.^[21] The general populace worshipped various Devas in temples, while Buddhist followers often practiced devotion secretly.^[22]

Culture

During Bhaskaravarman’s reign, Kamarupa saw cultural and intellectual growth, supported by his patronage and diplomatic ties with Harshavardhana.^[23] The Nidhanpur copper plate grant from Karnasuvarna includes unique local literary forms not seen in later inscriptions.^[24]

Art and industry

Bhaskaravarman’s gifts to Harshavardhana included land products such as a royal umbrella studded with gems, puthis on sachi-bark, cane mats, agar essence, musk, molasses, utensils, paintings, and silk fabrics, reflecting the rudimentary local industry.^[25][26]

Nidhanpur inscription

Main article: Nidhanpur copperplate inscription

Nidhanpur inscription of Bhaskaravarman

The Nidhanpur copper plate praises Bhaskaravarman as a ruler who dispelled the darkness of the Kali age, upheld Arya religion with his revenues, matched the strength of his vassals militarily, and improved the welfare of loyal subjects through steadiness and modesty. He is metaphorically adorned with fame from defeated kings’ praises and compared to legendary figures for charity and wisdom. He is described as learned, brave, patient, strong, and righteous.^[27]

Nalanda seal

The Nalanda seal of Bhaskaravarman (dated 643 CE)

Bhaskaravarman’s seal, dated 643 CE, was discovered at Nalanda with seals of Harshavardhana during 1917–18 excavations. The inscription lists royal names and may have accompanied an invitation to Xuanzang.^[28] The presence of both kings’ seals suggests they visited Nalanda and left their marks.^{[12][page needed]}

Sri Ganapati Varma Sri Yajnavatyam Sri Mahendra Varma.
Sri Suvratayam Sri Narayanavarma Sri Devavatyam Sri Mahabhuta Varman.
Sri Vijnana Vatyam Sri Chandramukha Varman Sri Bhogavatyam.
Sri Sthitavarma tena Sri Nayana Sobhayam (Sri Susthitavarman)
(Sri Syama Lakshmyam) Sri Supratisthita Varman.
Sri Bhaskara Varmeti.

K.N. Dikshit, in his "Epigraphical notes of the Nalanda finds", proposes that the seal probably accompanied Bhaskaravarman's letter to Śīlabhadra inviting Xuanzang.^{[29][full citation needed]} Bhaskaravarman's seal was found in the company of the two Harsha seals. It is likely that both Harsha and Bhaskaravarman were on the move from Rajmahal to Kanauj, merely to visit the university of Nalanda, and besides being together with the Chinese pilgrim, commemorate their visits previously, and by that, it is only to leave their respective seals at the university.^[30]

Death

The date and circumstances of Bhaskaravarman’s death are unknown; his reign likely ended around 650 CE.^{[citation needed]}

Post-death events

Historian Kanaklal Barua suggests a revolt by the Mlechhas after Bhaskaravarman’s death, leading Salastambha to seize the throne from his successor Avantivarman.^{[12][page needed]}

Legacy

Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University in Nalbari, Assam, is named after him.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Pala Dynasty